ALL-TIME RECORD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21905, 27 December 1945, Page 4

ALL-TIME RECORD

CHRISTMAS BUYING GISBORNE’S SPLURGE POCKETS FULL OF MONEY “There seemed no end to the supply of money, and we were sold out of many lines long before the end of the business, day. The Christmas Eve buying rush in Gisborne set up an all-tirne record so far as this store is concerned,” said a representative of a leading business this morning. “The amount of money spent in the town w’as phenomenal, and right up to closing hour the public were still keen for anything with a Christmassy flavour in the way of gifts.” The 'comment of this businessman w’as echoed by others, some of whom represented lines of business into which the Yule-tide normally brings little change. Shortages of stocks in some lines offered the only restraints accepted bv the buying public, for almost anything could be sold to people with pockets full of money to finance their Christmas splurge. Gift notions w’ere in better selection than in recent years, and there were more toys and a better variety than formerly. All these toys w’ere made in the Dominion, and many of them

showed a much-improved finish as well as advances in design and workmanship. There was no difficulty_ in selling toys or an y form of mechanical outfit, and earlier prejudices against articles produced in the country were not apparent this Christmas. Demands for sports wear for men, and for furnishings, could not be met from available stocks, and had more ample supplies been available in these departments the over-all business aggregate would have been considerably higher, according to several business people. Selling on Friday and Saturday had already given the season a good start tow’ards a record, incidentally, and over the three days the turnover of most Gisborne shops was much higher than in any similar period for many years. The spirit in which Christmas was welcomed was well exemplified in the business area during the evening of Monday, when from the Post Office to Derby street the breadth of Gladstone road was filled almost solidly with merrymakers. Vehicular traffic was barred from the main business area for the evening, in accordance with custom, and the crowd had full freedom of movement; a freedom of which it took the fullest advantage. Carnival hats, streamers, trumpets, and all the noise-making implements popular on such occasions made early appearances, and up to the hour of shop-closing there was almost no thinning out of the crowds.

Absence of Rowdyism

Cars parked in side streets of • the town offered an easy target for thieves, and one or two cases of theft were reported privately, but no serious trouble is believed to have occurred. The general behaviour of the carnival crowds was excellent, according to police observations, for though a few parties were a little rowdy owing possibly to too copious libations, no offensive behaviour was reported, and the Christmas Eve celebrations passed off without a single arrest for drunkenness or allied offences. Police control of the streets was unobtrusive but effective, and timely words in certain celebrants’ ears were sufficient to curb any tendency to rowdiness. The holiday-from-austerity spirit was exemplified in unusually heavy postal and telegraphic business on Christmas Eve, and Post and Telegraph Department staff members were tied closely to their tasks up to a late hour in the day. The manner in which they handled the exceptional load of business gave general satisfaction to the public.